Kelseyville beats Lower Lake in straight sets, moves within a win of co-championship
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KELSEYVILLE >> Julian Armas’ setting kept Kelseyville’s hitters busy all night as the Knights moved to within a win of clinching a share of a second straight North Central League I championship with a 25-16, 25-4, 25-11 victory over the Lower Lake Trojans on Monday in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville (8-1 league) is home again Tuesday night to close out its league and regular-season schedule against Anderson Valley, and a win will give the Knights a co-championship. Roseland University Prep (9-1) of Santa Rosa has already secured at least half of the NCL I title. Those two teams also tied for the league’s top spot a year ago.
If Kelseyville knocks off Anderson Valley to create a tie for first, the Knights and RUP will meet later in the week in a one-game playoff that decides which team gets the league’s automatic berth into the North Coast Section playoffs. The loser can still reach the postseason as an at-large team.
Armas didn’t play favorites while setting up Kelseyville’s many hitters. Andon Beall and Jorge Bernal finished with 12 kills apiece, Diego Serrato added seven more while Fabrizio Herrera finished with six. Beall also led the team with seven aces and two blocks.
“Julian Armas did a really nice job distributing the ball to several attackers,” Kelseyville head coach Donelle McCallister said of Armas’ 34 assists.
Otoniel Rivas anchored the defense with 12 digs.
George Baqleh and Jozef Arias each contributed four aces.
While Kelseyville is fielding a boys volleyball team for a second straight season, Lower Lake‘s program is nearing the end of its first year of competition, and the Trojans have struggled at times this season to field enough players.
“Lower Lake was able to put together a team,” McCallister said of Monday’s action. “They have some young people who have some volleyball skills that they can develop for next year.”
Added McCallister, “Our boys are trying to be consistent with their attacks and making the correct choice when handling the set that Julian Armas puts up for them.”
Lower Lake statistics were not available.
